Apparatus for burning liquid fuel



June 25, 1929. w. J. TURNER 1,718,614

APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed June 15, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet l ja /@7150? mi 6 Lia 111 J. ,Tuifiw wblbrm q MMMLM M June 25, 1929. w TURNER 1,718,614

APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed June -5, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 h m mum wt 6 war/11111 2; 7 11611 June 25, 1929. -w J. TURNER APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed June 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet Ii? 062750; ldllz'wm Jfjmwer- .6 luqbwlfl a w differ 232 June'25, 1929. w. J. TURNER APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed June 5, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet Z01) Miam Jfwrmew June 25, 1929. w. J. TURNER APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Fiied June 15, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet ji ia.

I71 ()6 11 U0 7 llli l Zia??? rlfiuvier' 6 Wdma /(wf amru lull

Patented June 25, 19.29.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. TURNER, 0F SEEKONK, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL.

Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for burning liquid fuel. More particularly it is adapted for burning; kerosene or the like hydrocarbmi oil, which vaporizcs readily in the appa 'atus herein described.

It anion the obj cots of the invention to provide for elimination of mechanisms, such as the hitherto customary motor, rotary fan or attunizer, etc; also to eliminate the need for auxiliary power and fuel, such as the customary need for electricity to drive the motor and the customary requirement of a supply of city gas for pilot to ignite the oil when the supply is under thermostatic control.

The noise and the vibration which originate in the power driven. mechanism having been thus eliminated it is an aim, by the reduction of the roar, which accon'ipanies the combustion of oil as at present practiced in burners of suitable site for domestic use, to attain a practically noiseless oil burning apparatus.

It is also an object to make the combustion clean and complete, thus preventing or eliminating thosc objectionable deposits of soot which are characteristic of oil burners at present known, which are wasteful of heat, require frequent cleaning, and are par ticularly obnoxious to handle. For this purpose steam is employed, a device which in itself is not broadly new; but it is a further object of the invention "to generate and to utilize the steam in a self contained manner, without requiring that the steam be sup plied from a boiler or other separate source.

Another object is to provide for adequate and exact control so as to introduce the steam and fuel in such proportions as may be prcdeteri'nined by the operator; and to provide for the flame and fuel consumption being increased or diminished, as more or less heat is wanted, without changing these proportions.

Deposits of carbon or soot being thus eliminated, it was found that there may be cccasional deposits in the burner arising from scale; audit is a further object of the invention to provide for the prevention of scale or any other solid matter lodging at the burner, and for its immediate removal if any should occur.

It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus which shall be safe in all respects for operation, even by an unskilled 1923. Serial No. 645,618.

person, and even under exti'aordil'iary conditious as in case of leakage or other escape of fuel.

Having these specific objects, and aiming also to attain those other advantageswhich are characteristic of the apparatus herein disclosed, it is in general the purpose to provide apparatus for burning fuel oil which shall be simple, efficient and quiet;wl1i.ch is automatically safe; and which can conveniently be installed in country houses or other remote places without requiring more than the skill of the ordinary pipe fitter, and can to an extent, and to provide further back in the supply line a source of fuel under pressure which forces additional increments of fuel through the check valve when the said vaporizer pressure has become reduced. When steam is to be employed with the fuel, as is preferable, it is a feature to employ a similar check valve and pressure supply for water, andtherewith to provide means by which the pressure on the oil and on the water are equal. In such case, the respective oil and water check valves open and close simultaneously; and the equality of pressure forces into the vaporizer quantities of oil and water whose proportion to each other is predetermined by the size of passage open through a rate control valve of each.

Another feature provides for the receptlon of this newly introduced oil and water in a local reservoir or supply chamber, where the oil and water stand together in liquid form, open to the vaporizer. As the oil and water do not mix in said chamber it is a further feature to provide so that increments of o 1l and water pass thence into the vapor1zer 1n proportions closely approxlmatlng those desired, self correcting in case of any var 1ation, so that the predetermined ratio is mamtained as, an average with great precislon.

The vaporization of those increments may occur substantially as in a flashboiler. The flow for thispurpose is made gradual by its being merely an overflow from a reservoir whose surface is relatively so large that its hydrostatic head is raised but a trifle by each sudden injection of more fuel. Such injections occur when a diminution of gaseous pressuresin the vaporizer permits liquid to enter through the said check valves. They normally last until checked by the rise of vapor pressure which follows the arrival of more liquid at the hot part of the vaporizer. But if for any reason the vapor pressure'does not respond at once, the liquid itself, in the reservoir, will shut off the inflow by lifting a that valve. Hence the apparatus intro duces its own fuel intermittently at the fast or slow rate of supply which is predetermined, graduates and averages its rate of feeding tothe vaporizer, maintains proper proportions of fuel and water, and shuts off excess of both. The provision of arestrictive passage'totheburner, permits the vaporization to build up a pressure which can alternate with the'supply pressure in operating theautomatic supply check valves; the making of this restriction capable of yielding protects against. excessive pressures arising; and the incessantfluetuations of the yielding member, due to pressure. changes which occur in the vaporizer, provides a local mechanical motor with which there may beoperatively combined a moving element forikeeping. the burner clear of all deposits.

Other features, principles and details of the invention and aims and advantages thereof, andthe means of attaining them, will appearfromthe particular form of apparatus as Ihereinshown as an illustrative embodiment of the invention; but it will be understood that'in practice the particular form shown may. be varied in many respects. It is intended that the patent shall cover, by

suitable expression in the appended claims,

er to which apparatusof the invention is shown applied;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the heater, with apparatus, on .a larger scale;

Figured-is a front elevation of apparatus shown'in Figure ,2, on a larger scale; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a part of the same, on the-line 4-4t of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a leftside elevation of the heater and apparatus, sectioned on the line 550f Fig. 6, being, as regards the heater, through the middle of the fire box, and being, asre ards the-apparatus, through the line of. in ow.

Figure 6 is aplan, in section through the j heater and apparatus on the line 66 of Fig. 2';

Figure 6 is a detail, showing a modification of an arrangement which is seen in Fig. 6;

. Figure 7 is an elevation of a detail, on line 77 of Fig. 5, enlarged;

Figure 8 is an elevation, in medial section through the vaporizer chamber and burner, on the line S8 of Fig. 6;

Figure 9 is an elevation, in medial section through the burner whose exterior is seen at the bottom of Fig. 8, enlarged.

Figure 10 is a plan of a detail, in section on the line 10-1O of Fig. 9;

Figure 11 is a plan of a detail of the burner, in section, on the line H ll, of Figure 9, enlarged;

Figure 12 is a plan of a modified form of vaporizer Figure 13 is an elevation of the same partly in section as on line 1313 of Fig. 12; and

Figure 14 is a section in elevation on line 14 14 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents in general terms a heater wherein the fuel is to be burned, for domestic, industrial, or other purposes, the particular form of heater selected for illustration being a steam boiler of domestic type having the usual tire box 12 whose wall may contain a water jacket 11, and above which is a shell 16 containing water and steam pipes, discharging to a piping system 18, etc. The only change required in this general structure, when installing the liquid fuel burning apparatus of the invention in any of the common coal burning types of heater, is the substitution of a special door 11 to accomn'iodate the feed pipe through which the liquid fuel is conducted into the fire box. Other changes can be made to advantage, such as the removal of the grate bars and the extension of the fire brick lining to the floor of the ash pit, but such alterations are optional and not necessary to the successful operation of the apparatus.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention including supply tanks from which the liquid is forced by equal air pressure, but other means, such as gravity, could be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. The drawings illustrate apparatus in which both oil, such as kerosene or the like, and water cooperate in the combustion. The water can be omitted, but as the )rovision of water in suitable proportion e 'ects combustion without causing the customary and troublesome soot or carbon deposits, the invention will herein be described in its application to such a double-liquid system.

The supply system illustrated comprises three tanks, 22, 24 and 26 which, as a measure of elearness are shown as separate from each other, into one of which, 22, a supply of oil, or whatever liquid fuel is used, is

Ill)

transferred from time to time by means of a suitable pump, 28, from the ordinary shipping drum 30 or other source; and into another of which, 24, water ted at intervals through a connection 32 with the city main or other source. Into the third tank, 26, air may be forced by a simple hand pump, 34, or other suitable means. This air is conducted to both liquid supply tanks and provides pressure for pushing their liquids through pipes, 36, 36 shown somewhat enlarged for clearness, to the burner.

The liquids first pass hand valves, 38, 38 by which either or both liquid. supplies may be cut oil, and thence flow through suitable strainers 40, 40 and check valves 42, 42 which stop the flow periodically when the pressure generated beyond these valves, as will be described later, is greater than the air pressure in the supply system. These check valves are inflow service valves which automatically admit more fuel when the supply in the vaporizer is failing to main tain the desired rate of combustion.

Beyond these check valves are restriction or rate valves 44, 44 continuously open for determining the actual, and also the pro portional, rate at which each liquid shall flow, so long as the check valves remain open. These are conveniently of needle valve type and with screw stems 46 and tapered heads. These rate valves may be set manually, and. separately; but the invention provides for shifting them automatically and simultaneously, when the combustion is to be increased or diminished, to a predetermined degree, thereby to change the total flow to the vaporizer, without changing the proportion of one liquid to the other.

Assuming that pink kerosene, or :turnace oil, is to be burned with about 4% of water added, this ratio of about 24: 1 maintained, at various rates of combustion which may be desired, by shiitii'lg the oil valve to a greater distance than the water valve, but it is notnecessary to make the distance of travel proportional to the said ratio 24: 1. The restricted. passage which is closed by the oil needle valve 44 is illustrated as having twice the capacity of that of the water valve, 44; and by a system of gearing the larger valve may be simultaneously moved twelve times as tar as the Water valve is moved. trated have straight conical heads, the opening varies according to the distance of movement of the valve head; but by shaping the valve head with a suitable curve instead oi the cone the variation may be made at a diflierent or irregular rate it desired. A pinion 48 on the stem of the oil valve meshes with the larger member, three times its size, of a combination pinion 50, whose smaller member meshes with a pinion 52, four times As the valves illusas large, on the water valve stem. The t 'amc plates 54 support an internally threaded sleeve 55 pa 'allel to and intermediatc of the valve stems. lVi thin this sleeve is the shaft 56 of the combination gear, having a threaded portion 56 which engages internal threads of the sleeve, so that as the combination gear rotates, its shalt move hingitmlinally with respect to the sleeve. The purpose of this is to reduce the relative longitudinal slip between the pinions 48 and 52 on the valve stems and the i'mqiective members of the combh'iation gear with which they mesh, for when the water valve stem is rotated once, the combi nation gear will rotate tour times and the oil valve stem twelve times, and consequently the longitudinal shift of thevalve stems will be pro portionately dill'erent. By making the combination gear also shittable, in the same directions as the stems move along their axes, the relative slip between the teeth in the several pinions is materially reduced, thus lessening the friction and making it possible to use more narrow pinions.

A lever 58 is provided at the end of the combination gear shaft by which this shaft, and, through it, the gears and valves, may be moved to admit more liquid. or less liquid to the burner. One end of the lever has a lug 58" projecting from its side, so as to travel in an arcuate slot 60 in one of the supporting plates, struck about the axis of the shaft 56, when the lever swings, so as to strike dogs 62 connarised oi bolts that. are adjustable along the slot to various positions. The setting of these di'igs establishes the limits of swing oi the lever and thus they fix the extent to which the rate valves will be opened or will be closed as the lever swings in normal autonnrtic ope 'ation, and swings in either direction until it is stopped by one or the other of these dogs. By suitable setting ot the upper dog, Fig. 3, a minimum how can be predetermined i or keeping a small. flame burning, producingheat just suliicient to vaporize the liquid it requires to sustain itself, in which e: se the apparatus requires no separate pilot flame with its attendant complications.

The automatic movement of this lever is eli'ected by automatic control zqiparatus of types already known, as thermostatic apparatus 64 or a pressurestat (l6. lloth connections are indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, though ordinarily only one would he in use at a time. Upon the room temperature falling below that which is to be maintained, the motor 65 of the thermostat con trol, it this be connected, will act through the chain 68 to raise the free end of? the lever 58, with its weight 72, thus turning the gears so as to open the needle valves and lot more fuel pass. The same motion may also open the damper oi the door to the ash pit chamber.

under the fire box to admit more air. When the temperature becomes too high, the same motor slaekens the chain and thus lets the weight 72 pull the lever 58 down, reducing the rate at.which these service rate valves permit fuel to flow.

Beyond the rate valves, whatever amounts of oil and of water have passed them flow onward together through a single pipe 74, leading upward through a float-controlled valve 7 6 (Figs. 3, 5) into the float chamber accumulator 78. An expansion spring 80, coiled about a stem of this valve 7 6, tends always to close it, and does so when the level of liquid in the chamber rises high enough to lift the weight of the float 82 from the stem. This float is centered in the float chamber by axial rods 83 passing loosely through guides in' the top and bottom of the chamher. The float is an automatic safety control for intermittent feed. lVith the float valve open, the entering oil and water ascend in the float chamber or accmnulator, separating into distinct strata with the oil at the top. The flow to the burner is by overflow, but thereis a dam 84 having a--Vshaped notch 86, (Fig, 7) whose lowermost part is below the oil stratum. This arrangement permits oil to flow out through the upper part of the notch and water through the lower part. The relative size of the portions of the notch through which each liquid escapes is preferably approximately proportionate to the'qua-ntities of oil and water entering the From the float chamber, the oil and water continue together as liquids into the vaporizer of the apparatus. This is a chamber conveniently made of ordinary pipe 88 of suitable size, for example, 2 inch, extending from its connection with the float chamber, through the door 11 of the fire box at a slight inclination downward, across the fire box to the rear side thereof where it rests on the upper end of the fire brick lin ing 20, and back forward, and somewhat upward, to a point near the door where its end may be closed, as shown in full lines in Figures 5 and 6. If preferred this end may be connected to the first leg as shown at 88 in Figure 6. About midway of the return leg, 88, a branch pipe 92 extends the chamber upward a short distance and thence horizontally toward the center of the fire box where it stops with closed end (Fig. 8) just beyond its outlet to the burner. The latter is provided through a tube 9-il (Fig. 8), ris

ing through the bottom of this part of the chamber and extending upward substantially half wayacross its cavity, to mid-space where scale or solid particles do not exist to enter the tube 94 or close its relatively small passage. The tube runs vertically downward to below the first leg of the vaporizer, and there carries the burner, 96, which is located approximately in the middle of the fire box.

A modified form of vaporizer is shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, in which the liquids from the float chamber pass through the connections 85, 87 into a short pipe 89 set at a slight pitch downward, of about ft,- inch to each foot length. From this the liquids enter a level straight-away portion 9l of the vaporizer extending across the lire box with its ends resting on the top edge of the lining 20. The remote end 91 of this portion may be plugged as shown, or may lead into another similar sect-ion, either beyond it or beside it, if the fuel box is of suflicient size, or its extension may be a mere dead end to reach the rear wall for the rear support. About midway of this straight-away pfilllfln, and offset from its side, is a circular loop 91" having a slightly higher chamber than that in the straight-away, from which loop the tube 94: proy ides an exit for the vaporized gases as heretofore described. The burner 96 in this case is arranged under the center of the loop so that the heat from the flame rises all around and also through the central cavity of the loop. Fins 91 on the lower side of the vaporizer aid in absorbing heat for vaporizing the liquids. If only one such vaporizer is to be employed a low dam 91 in the straight-awry position ust beyond the loop, may hold up the flow to the remote rear end of the vaporizer. The horizontality of the vaporizer and the slight pitch of the short inlet pipe 89 enable a very small accmnulation of liquid, in case the fire goes out, to raise the level in the float chamber enough to shut off the supply, as below described.

A preferred type of burner is illustrated in detail in Figures 9 to 11. This may be made in simple manner from a piping T 96, whose opposite openings are plugged except for small axial holes 98 through which extends loosely a square stem 100 having serrated corners which serve to keep the holes free from all deposits as the stem moves about unceasingly while the burner is in action. Gases issuing from the vaporizer through the tube 94 enter this T and escape downward or upward through the spaces around the stem. At the bottom of the stem a conical nut 102 on the stem constitutes a deflector for those gases which pass downward around the stem, through the bottom hole of the T. An iron block 104, having suitable weight to play up and down with changes of vapor pressure under it, is attached to the upper end of the stem and normally rests upon the circular edge of a recess 106 in the top side of the T. In this circular edge small. notches 108 are provided so that gas passing upward in the T, entering the recess through the axial hole 98, is jetted outward substantially horizontally from the burner into the lire box. When the block is lifted, as by an increase of pressure in the vaporizer, seeking escape through the T, the gas may escape more freely all around the edge, incidentally opening the tops of the notches and cleaning any that may have become clogged.

To start the apparatus, the hand valves 38, 38, are opened, allowing liquid oil and water to flow from the supply tanks to the rate valves a l, 4A which have been previously set to permit the proper proportion of each liquid to pass through them to the float chamber. This proportion may be 24 to 1, which has been found satisfactory, or such other as is desired. A kindling wood fire is started in the fire box to heat the vaporizer, so that the liquid passing the V notch of the float chamber will become vaporized. \Vhen. this occurs to a sufficient degree, as it does promptly, the pressure thus generated, transmitted baclnvard through the liquid to the check valves 42, 42, closes them and thus temporarily cuts off inflow. The gases generated in the vaporizer pass downward through the tube 94 into the chamber of the T 96, and blow out thence downward and sidewise into the air in the fire box, where they burn. and so supply heat for continued vaporization. and for the main heating function of the apparatus. As the gases thus continue to escape, the pressure in the vaporizer grows less until. it falls below that of the liquid supply, whereupon the latter opens the check valves, and more of each liquid flows into the float chamber, the level ofthe body therein is raised, and more flows over the darn to the vaporizer. The supply of liquids to the vaporizer operates in cycles comprising liquid inflow, generation of gaseous pressure due to vaporization, closing of inflow passage by this pressure, iweompanied by escape of the gases, and their burning, and reduction of the gaseous pressure till the pressure of the supply opens the inflow passages and forces in a further flow of the liquid. The burning, however is continuous, for there is always sufficient in the vaporizer to supply the burner even though its pressure is not great enough to keep the check valves closed. Moreover, the flame approximates uniformity in apparent size and force notwithstanding the intermittent character of the supply. This is due in part to the regulating effect of the weight on the top of the burner, which rises and so lets more gas out when the pressure is higher, and falls so that less escapes when it is lower, thus preventing excessive variations of pressure of the vapor that is about to be burned. The uniformity is also due in part to the feeding by restricted overflow from a large liquid surface, prolonging distribution, to the compressibility of the gases themselves in the vaporizer, and in part to the automatic diminution of the liquid supply whenever a larger quantity of gas is generated. The force driving the gases from the burner is the pressure created by their own generation, and, as this is relatively small, there is therefore no annoying roar or noise such as accompanies the atom ization of liquid fuel by high pressure air.

If for any reason the fire should go out while the hand valves 38, 38 controlling the fuel supply are open, or should get so low that the vaporizer cools, and the fuel flowing into it ceases to be vaporized, the apparatus will cut off the inflow automatically, for if the inflow to the float chamber is for a long enough time, faster than the outflow thence to the vaporizer through notch 86 or over dam 84, the rise of level in the float chamber lifts the float, thereby allowing the float valve 76 to be seated by its coiled spring 80. Upon the slow overflow of liquid at this high level, into the vaporizer, this valve will open and admit more; so that slowly. the vaporizer will fill to the level at which the float permits the valve 76 to remain closed. As the outlet to the burner is well above this level, no liquid can flow out through the burner. As the incline of the vaporizer chamber below horizontality is but little, and may in practice be less than is illustrated, preferably so that the total drop is not equal to the diameter of the pipe, and as its length is not great, the liquid contents of the vaporizer upon the attaining of this level will be small. Thus a permanent stoppage of liquid supply will take place before any great quantity of liquid has gathered in the vaporizer. Upon a wood fire being kindled in the fire box, such liquid is readily vaporized without harm. There will be no clogging of the outlet for vapor, because said outlet, being the top of the pipe 94 seen in Figure 8, is arranged above the level of any sediment, in the midst of a space where there is only gas, and in addition to its open top may have a plurality of holes in the side walls of the upstanding pipe end; while at its discharge end this pipe Sthas an opening which is expansible automatically with increase of pressure by the lifting of the weighted valve 104, which has a relatively large. under surface exposed to the pressure. Therefore the vapor escapes and burns freely, as rapidly as it is generated, without possibility of explosion. In consequence there an be no flooding of the fire box; no escape of the liquid fuel; nor any appreciable escape of vaporized fuel without ignition. Aside fromthe safety thus insured, there is no loss of fuel for whatever liquid gets into the vaporizer remains there until it is transformed into gas and burned.

The situation which has just been described, in which the fuel is shut off by valve 76, is a normal feature of the operation of.

theapparatus which may occur whenever theflame is freshly lighted, if the operator turns on the liquid supply before his kmas infflow of liquid occurs. In case the level of liquid contents has risen so that the lower end of thevaporizer is filled with liquid,

gases have'easy access to the burner through theloop section :88 ofF-igxG. Vith the beginning of vaporization the apparatus begins to function with oscillation of pressures in the vaporizer above and below the fuel supply'pressure operating the check valves 42, 42 as the service control of the fuel and [water supply. Under these circumstances,ordinarily, the float will not rise high'enough for the valve 76 to be closed. It is intermittently in motion, however, with A. the float, and'all sediment falls away from it, leaving it and its seat clear.

"The purpose of the dual supply system is to permit presence of'a controlled proportion of water with the fuel in the vaporizer and at combustion. This keeps all interior surfaces of fire pot, burner and vaporizer clear of sootior other carbon deposits. I have found that the proportion of water which maybe employed with good results in this direction may vary between wide limits, a. proportion of about 4% of water being mentioned by way of' illustration. During a long'continuousrun of the heater the quantity of steam in the vaporizer will average atwhatever figure is pie-determined by the setting of the rate valves 44, 44, because shows will produce the desired result.

the feed pressure is equal upon the fuel and upon the water, and the flow of each therefore depends upon cross sectional area of its passage. This is determined by its rate valve, in Whose setting such'matters as different viscosity of liquid, greater friction in the smaller' passage, etc., may be taken care of by making such correction over the computed setting of the valves as experielnce or this purpose it is a simple matter to slip the gear 50 out of mesh'with gears 48 and 52 and then to'adj'ust either of the latter with respect to. the other.

The appropriate parts of the apparatus may be operatedwithout the water system, letting only oil -flow into the vaporizer and burner. In such case it may have all of the advantages which characterize those of its parts that are used, and which constitute superiority over other known apparatus for buring oil, although subject somewhat to the deposition of-carbon which characterizes such other apparatus; but this deposition will be less because of the self cleaning effect .of the perpetually'moving clearing device in Ithebur'ner. If water be used, this latter device is'not needed for clearing carbon; but it is useful to prevent the lodgment of any obstructive particle of scale; such as has been found to occur apart from deposits of carbon.

Inasmuch as the oil and water are to be fed together in liquid form, and as they do not mix, the automatic emission of proportionate parts of these liquids from the float chamber, which constitutes the local reservoir from which the vaporizer supplied, is a feature of the invention having a special interest. Assuming that the oil and water are supplied in proportion of 24: to l. and that the oil is lighter than the water, it will be probable that when the apparatus is first started and the float chamber 78 is first tilled, the latter will have water alone at the bottom and. oil alone at the top: and that the water level will be far below the outlet notch 86. Under these circumstances oil alone will be fed to the vaporizer. But water will accumulate in the float chamber 78 until it. reaches the level of the outlet notch 86. Thereafter the body of liquid in the lloat chamber will consist of water with a thin stratum of oil at its top; and the flow into the vaporizer will be approximately in the proportion in which the two liquids pass the rate valves 4st, 44:, that is, one part of wu'ter to 24 of oil. The total outflow must equal the total inflow. If in the outflow water should be present in less than the stated proportion. the positiveness of the introduction of water in that ratio will gradually increase the body of water trapped in the reservoir 78, and this will raise its level until correction is made.

In the design and operation of apparatus embodying the invention it is to be noted that the storage supplies of oil and water may be contained in one, two or three tanks as is most convenient. For clcarncss of showing they are here represented in separate tanks; but the air tank might be omitted, and its air stored in the tops of the water and oil tanks; or the water and oil might be stored in a single tank, with the water at the bottomhaving an outlet pipe suitably located to take only water; with the oil resting upon the water and provided with its outlet pipe suitably located to take only oil; and with the air pressnig on them both. In any case the provision of suitable gauges will show the level of liquid contents and the pressure of air. which can be replenished as needed by simple pumps; but it is to be observed that the air originally furnished can remain permanently. In so doing of course the pressure of the air varies from time to time according to the quantities of oil and water present. This however is immaterial as I have found that in an operative installation a wide range of air pressures may be used for the feeding, as for example from five pounds to fifty pounds per square inch. If for example the storage space allotted to liquid fuel and to water be 20 gallons each, the space allotted to air may conveniently be 100 gallons and the initial pressure 15 pounds, in which case the reduction of pres-- sure as the liquids are consumed will not be too great, in fact I have found that to pounds of air pressure is particularly satisfactory. When operated at higher pressures the flame becomes especially hot and fierce. In that case the restrictions at the burner and the yieldable weight .thereon must be such as to raise the vaporizer contents to a pressure greater than the pressure of supply i 11 order to produce the above described oscillation of pressures with intermittent shut off of supply.

The rate of combustion depends upon the rate of feed of fuel; and that in turn is conill] fill

trolled by the setting of the fuel rate valve, whose extent of opening is a principal factor. he net pressure on the fuel at this valve is another principal faetor, and these two determine the amount that will flow during the period of time when the fuel check valve is open. liy providing equal pressures for water and oil on the supply side, and equal. back pressures for water and oil on the vapOliZGI. side, and by providing approximately propm'tional valve openings at all settings of the water and oil rate valves, the present invention makes simple a problem which has elements of much. complication. The permissible latitude in water consumption, makes negligible any small departures from exact precision of inoportions which are involved in the apparatus disclosed. These rate valves can be set by the installing ongineer and sealed with. a/wire pin 57, having a seal 59, as seen in Figure Thereafter the householder may change the rate of combustion at will, to make a large or small fire according to the season, by moving the control lever 58. If this be done automatically, as illustrated, he can set the dogs 62 so that the tin-nod down flame is only a little below and the turned up flame a little above the average desired, and thus can keep a fairly steady lire instead of having alternate periods of extinguished flame as in apparatus now commonly in use.

The safety stop valve 76, and its attendant parts, are preferably housed in a series of tubular elements which can be taken apart like piping for inspection. Its stem may have serrated. corners like the clearing device 100 of the burner. These are conveniently made by milling or filing oil the sides of a screw threaded pin or by cutting a screw thread on the corners of a bit of square rod. A single leg of piping 79 may support this valve and its float chamber 78; and the burner and vaporizer chamber may likewise be of piping construction, all of which makes the apparatus easy of manufacture in any varied size or shape to fit any existing fire box, and makes it all easily openable for i11- spection. The relation of the valve 76 to the float 82 and its support 83 and to the dam and notch ea, 86, may be such that the top level of liquid in the reservoir 78 must rise one-fourth of an inch above the bottom of the notch 86 before the float is lifted from its. low position wherein it is resting on and holding wide open. the valve 76; and this position of the valve may be so fixed that a further rise of fr, of an inch of the liquid level in the reservoir will let this safety stop val ve 76 close.

In the operation of this part of the appa ratus it is assumed that a fuel used which is lighter than water; and as this fuel is introduced at greater rate there will always be some of it at the top, for fuel overflow to the vaporizer. However abrupt the admission and cut-off of the solid. column of inflowing fuel may be at the check valves, the flow from the reservoir to the vaporizer is relatively gradual, because this latter flow from the relatively large surface of liquid in this reservoir and is under the extremely low hydrostatic head provided by the notch. The making of inclined sides for the notch, is not essential, for if the notch had vertical sides, or were even omitted so that the flow occurred over the top of the dam 84l,or if the dam were omitted and the low occurred straight into the discharge pipe 85,-the above described averaging of proportions of flow of water and fuel would automatically occur. But the notch illustrated. is considered preferable because an evenness of proportions of flow is thereby better approximated.

The depending bnrner feed pipe 94 may be standard one-eighth inch ironv pipe, and the Vertical hole in the burner may be about f of an inch. In some cases it may be possible to omit the weight aspect of the top closure 104 and to use a more disk. In such. cases I have found that the fluttering of this disk agitates the cleaning stem 100 with satisfactory results. shoots out in all directions from the burner, the latter preferably placed in the midst of the fire box. If more capacity for combustion is desired it is preferable to have a number of small burners rather than to make a single burner larger, for if the burner be larger a greater distance of clear space around it is needed for the completion of the combustion. Air for comlmstion may enter through the usual front draft door common in coal furnaces; and when sulficient air is siu plied the operation leaves no visible deposit of vaporization, combustion, or residue.

The apparatus therefore can be installed so as to be proof against harm from inex- As the fla me perienced handling, and so as to require supervision only to the extent of maintaining proper supplies of Water and fuel.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel comprising a vaporizer; a burner fed thereby, the discharge passage from the vaporizer being restrictive, whereby pressure is built up in the vaporizer; a liquid fuel pressure supply line, with check valve, and a reservoir, into which said supply line delivers, a liquid overflow feed passage from the reservoir to the vaporizer, said passage having cross-sectional area greater than the'cross sectional area of the stream of liquid fuel therein, whereby a space is provided in said passage, above said stream, through which the said built-up pressure in the vaporizer is transmitted backward to close said check valve, while feed of liquid fuel to the vaporizer may simultaneously continue.

2. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel, comprising a vaporizer; a burner, fed thereby;

a liquid fuel supply line, including a reservoir supplying the vaporizer by overflow; a valve for admitting liquid fuel to the reservoir; and a float therein controlling said valve; the said vaporizer comprising a chamber arranged close by said reservoir and with its bottom approximately at the level of the said overflow, and enough below it to permit free flow of liquid to the place of vaporization, whereby the vaporizer has such relation vto the normal operating level of liquid in the reservoir that the gathering of a relatively small abnormal quantity of liquid in the vaporizer raises the level in the reservoir, thereby permitting the said valve to close.

3. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel, comprising a vaporizer, and a burner, fed thereby, combined with a liquid fuel supply line to the vaporizer, having a service valve; means whereby contents of the vaporizer control the opening and the closing of said valve; a reservoir into which liquid flows from the service valve; and means to graduate the flow, to the hot part of the vaporizer, of fuel that has entered through the said valve, comprising a spout for escape of liquid, having a top continuously open to above the normal filling level of liquid in the reservoir, whereby fuel which has passed said service valve will continue to flow to the vaporizer for a considerable period of time after the said service valve is closed.

4, Apparatus for burning liquid fuel, comprising a vaporizer, and a burner, fed thereby; combined with a. liquid fuel supply line to the vaporizer, having a service valve; means whereby contents of the vaporizer control the opening and the closing ofsaid valve, the said vaporizer comprising a chamber extending at a slight incline downward and to a level only slightly lower than its entrance; whereby the normal action removes fuel from the entrance level, and the accumulation in the vaporizer of a relatively small amount of fuel causes a rise of fuel level at the fuel entrance.

5. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel, comprising a vaporizer, and a burner fed thereby and operating the vaporizer, said vaporizer having a restricted outlet to the burner whereby pressure which may fluctuate arises in the vaporizer; combined with a liquid fuel pressure supply line leading to the vaporizer; means producing a feeding pressure on the fuel in the supply line; a service valve controlling the admission of fuel, responsive to excess of pressure alternately in vaporizer and in supply; a chamber in the supply line, between the service valve and the vaporizer, and outside of the vaporizing influence of the burner, for holdin a body of the liquid fuel which is being fed; and a safety stop valve responsive to change of quantity of liquid in the chamber, and closed by increase thereof.

(3. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel with water, comprising a vaporizer, and a burner fed thereby, with separate supply lines for fuel and for water each of which includes a restricted portion whose opening is variable, under automatic control, combined with means whereby the fuel and water are supplied to said openings under equal pressure, so that the proportions of fuel and water introduced are predetern'iincd by the control of said openings and means between the said openings and the vaporizer for accumulation in liquid form of said fuel and water together, said means having a discharge opening such that fuel and water are delivered by overflow to the vaporizer in substantially the same proportions that they come to said accumulator.

7. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel with water, comprising a vaporizer, and a burner fed thereby, with separate supply lines for fuel and for water each of which includes a restricted portion whose opening is variable, under control, combined with means whereby the fuel and water are supplied to said openings under equal pressure, whereby the proportions of fuel and water introduced are predetermined by the control of said openings; means whereby the sizes of said variable openings are prcdetcrminul in respect of their ratio to each other; and means between the said openings and the vaporizer for accumulation in liquid form of said fuel and water together, the latter said means having a discharge opening such that fuel and water are delivered by overflow to the vaporizer in substantially the same proportions that they come to said accumulator.

8. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel with water, comprising a vaporizer, and a burner fed thereby, with separate supply lines for fuel and for water, a chamber to which the supply lines deliver their liuel and water while both are in liquid. form; and a passage thence for liquid oil. and water to the vaporizer; said burner being arranged to boil. the fuel and water together in the vaporizer and to burn the vaporized product thereof; and said supply lines having each a valve, the two said valves having screw stems and means interconnecting them, whereby their ratio of opening is predetern'iinedg said means con'iprising a gear on each stein, a gear intern'iediate the stem gears, and a rotatable element, carryin said intermedia-te gear, adapted to move longitiulinaily, upon rotation, with the screw-stems to maintain the said gears in mesh combined with means predeterinining the ratio oi pressures oi liquid on the two said valves.

9. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel will water, comprising a vaporizer, a burner ted thereby, and separate supply lines For Fuel and for water, a chamber to which the supply lines deliver their fuel and water while both are in liquid form; and a passage thence for liquid fuel and water to the 'aporizer; said burner being arranged to boil the fuel and water together in the vaporizer and to burn. the vaporized product thereof; and saidsupply lines having each a rate-of-flow control valve; combined with means predetermining the ratio oil? pressures of liquid on the two rate valves; means iincrconnecting the valves, whereby their ratio of openings is determined; an operating element for them; stops limiting the travel. of said element, at positions cor responding to turned up and turned down conditions of flame; and an auton'iatic control means for moving said element to each said limit.

10. Apparatus for burning liquid ihiel. with water, comprising a vaporizer, and a burner ted thereby, and separate siiipply lines for liuel and for water containing in terconneeted ratebf-flow valves whereby the proportion oi. inflow oi: each liquid is de termined; pressure means for torcii'ig the supply in each line; back-pressure operated means for closing each line; a union of the two lines beyond the rate-ot-flow valves; and float operated means for closing the combined line between said union and the vaporizer.

11. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel with water, comprising a vaporizer, a burner fed thereby, and a reservoir in which are fuel and water together, adapted for both fuel and water to overflow from it by gravity, each from its top level therein, for

leeding the vaporizer, combined with an iniii "Jlpe and in i h the rtie at water .5. to said reservoir; said reservoir having an area. greatly exceeding that of its inflow pipe, whereby an intermittency of flow to the reservoir is modified to a more uniform outflow to the vaporizer.

12. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel, comprising a vaporizer, a burner ted thereby, and a reservoir feeding the vaporizer by overflow, there being in the wall of a reservoir a V notch. extending below the liquid surface whereby the time required tor out flow of liquid added suddenly to the contents of the reservoir is prolonged.

13. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel with water, con'iprising a vaporizer, a burner :ted thereby, a reservoir ifor the supply of line]. and. water, feeding the vaporizer by overflow; combined with means predetermining the ratio of water and fuel introduced to said reservoir; and a device providing for ascape of each liquid from the reserviiiir, wherein. both are contained, at an average rate approximating the said predetermined ratio, said device comprising a notch e);- tending down in the wall of the reservoir, for the overflow, to the water level under the fuel.

14'. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel with water, coi'nprising a vaporizer, a burner ied thereby, and a reservoir :tor the si'qiipty of fuel and water, feeding the vaporizer by overflow; combined with means predetermining the ratio of water and fuel introduced. to said reservoir; and a device providing for escape oi? each liquid from the reservoir, wherein both are contained, at an average rate approximating the said predetermined ratio, said device comprising in the wall of the reservoir a notch for the overflow wherein. the bottom portion of the notch is narrower tl'ian the top, with wat-ur flowing through the bottom and fuel through the top oi the notch.

15. iiqi ntratus for burning liquid fuel comprising a vaporizer; a burner ted there by, the discharge passage from the vaporizer being restrictive, whereby pressure is built up in the vaporizer; a liquid fuel pressure siqiplyline, with check valve, iliecding the vaporizer and adapted to be closed by the said built up pressure; and a reservoir, in termediate between. the check valve and the vaporizer, and siqiplying the latter by overflow; there being a passage for liquid flow by gravity from reservoir to vaporizer; said passage being so inclined, and at each point having its top high enough above its bottom at later points in its course, to avoid becoming filled wit-h liquid at any point, whereby a free passage for gas is left, from the vaporizer to the reservoir.

16. Apparatus for burning liquid :tuel

comprising a lire pot, and within ita vapornzei 3 a bi. ed thereby, ti l refiner he 'wherebypressure is builtup in the vaporizer; and comprising, outside of the fire pot,

a liquid fuel pressure supply line, with check valve, feeding the vaporizer and adapted to be closed by the said built up pressure; and a reservoir, intermediate between the check valve and the vaporizer, and supplying the latter by overflow; the vaporizer being located with the normal vaporizing level ol its contents below the level of and laterally apart from the place of reservoir overflow; and there being a connecting passage between reservoir and vaporizer for inflow of liquid and for back flow of vapor transmitting pressure to the reservoir independently of the liquid in the passage; the said fuel supply line being arranged entering the reservoir below the normal range of liquid level therein; whereby pressure of the vaporizer applied to the surface of liquid in the reservoir is transmitted through a solid column of liquid to the check valve.

17. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel with water, comprising a vapm'izer and a burner fed thereby; combined with a teed system to the vaporizer, including a local delivery chamber for holding both liquids together, with float valve in this chamber controlling inlet thereto; separate t't-ed pipes for the liquids, lor inlet to the chamber, with interconnected valves for maintaining uniformly, at ditferent stages of valve opening, adiniinutive ratio of area oti water valve opening to area. of fuel valveopening; nit-ans holding each liquid in storage supply, with said separate pipe to its said interconnected valve; and a single pressure means applied to storage supply of the two liquids. whereby the ratio between pressures of the several liquids at the interconnecting valves is maintained approximately constant.

Signed at Providence, Rhode l:-l:l!l l, this 23rd day of May, 1923.

\VILLIAM J. TURN ER. 

